where the angle brackets denote a weighted average over all microtrajectories with fixed start \(i\)  and end \(j,k\)  points.
\(\beta \)  is the inverse temperature, \(E_{kj} = E_j - E_k\)  is the energy difference, and
\(W_{\mathrm {abs}}\) 
is the stochastic nonequilibrium work absorbed from a time-dependent drive.
Equation (REF ) evidences that a higher work absorption in the \(i\)  to \(j\)  transition boosts the probability of state \(j\)  over the alternative \(k\) .
Dissipative adaptation can, therefore, describe the self-organization of a physical system enabling it to become apparently well suited to perform some finely-tuned, exceptional task: to seek energy [1]}, [2]}, to avoid energy [2]}, [4]}, [5]}, or to self-replicate [6]}, [7]}, [8]}.
